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Let's start a new project. First I tried to find some photos for example colors of this car. While searching on the internet I discovered the original car which was the example of the Heller-kit. It is part of a vehicle collection at a museum near Lyon in France. Yesterday I wrote to the museum in order to get more information and any photos of the car and its details (engine, interior etc). I'm curious if I'll get an answer. Meanwhile I try to mix the correct color for bodywork. A dark saphir-blue airbrush ink as basic making some brighter with white and silver. A follwing test will show it...

This one has been finished in April 2020 7.5 months, probably more than 150 worked hours, 3 same kits, a lot of patience, several homeric angers, 3 cans of Tamiya TS10, and many more will have been necessary for the finalisation of this complex build of a (very) poor quality Heller kit I bought 25 years ago ! But it was worth it ! I'm rather proud of the result I got, and this legendary car deserved it ! Throughout this build, I've had to learn and master several techniques I hadn't in my hands and/or mind before, and all this work will be very useful for further projects, particularly my Bugatti T50 Coupé de Ville POCHER 1/8 build. I've enhanced this kit, which had OOB 124 parts, not counting the decals, scratching and adding more than 120 parts, so this car count now more than 250 parts. Two bodys have been built, the chassis has been repaired several times, because of the weakness of the Heller plastic parts, even on the 2 recently re-released kits. One chassis is OOB, trunk lid not opening, and the one I'll show you below has an opening trunk lid and opening bonnets with a real handmade piano hinges. Hereunder a non exhaustive list of the improvements I did: In the engine bay: - Wiring of the ignition coil and spark plug wires, with the flute to canalize the wires - Gasoline inlet piping to carburetors - Wiring of the battery - Fuse box -Retaining system for opened bonnets - metallic cross-pieces In the cabin: - Aerators - Stowage compartment for front passenger - Car radio - Modification of the inner part of the doors and rear panels, to match to the original car - Rear view mirror for the driver - New scratch built handbrake lever - Control levers for lights and horn , and gear lever - Floor mats On the body: - opening and reclosable trunk lid with moveable handle, retaining system for opened lid - Fabrication of the interior of the trunk, carpeting with flocking powder - Fabrication of the stand for the spare wheel, and of the leather straps to retain it. - Fabrication with chrome BMF of trims for rear fenders - Replacement of OOB chromed plastic strips for the body sides by nickel plated brass strips - Fabrication with brass sheet, brass tube, and piano string of workable piano hinges or the bonnets. It has been the more difficult part of this build ! And I certainly forget what else! Except for the bumpers and grill, all chromed parts have been de-chromed and painted chrome to get a better and realistic shine The French blue paint hasn't be clear coated, only sanded with Alclad Mesh form 3600 to 12000 grit, and then polished with Tamiya compounds, plus Carnauba wax Hope you'll appreciate it If you're interested in, you can follow my WIP build, following this link: Talbot Lago Record 1950-  Heller 1:24 WIP